Montana GOP once again shows where their values lie, and it isn’t with public interest

In committee room, in wood House seats,
No logic shall impede our feats.
Let those who live in Treasure State,
beware our record, it’s not that great.
-Oath of the MT GOP Corps

At some point in our lives Steve Martin explained to the world, “That a day without sunshine is like, well, night.” But with all the stumbling in the dark that’s happening, it could really be day fifty-four of the Montana Legislature or any day at all in the Montana House Judiciary Committee.

Reasoning behind the vote against the regulation was a discussion of religious freedom and protecting it from government intruding on the rights of Montana citizens. Break this down into simple terms and it goes something like this: The Montana GOP believes that the “freedoms” of an institution who claims religious affiliation and has been accused of the abuse of the children it was created to assist outweigh the impacts of protecting at-risk-young adults from becoming victims once again.

It’s hard to even fathom the kind of side-winding, bat-crap logic that it takes to get to a conclusion like that, but then you remember why the bill had to be blasted out of committee in the first place. Because it was tabled there. The House Judiciary committee tabled a bill. That was written to regulate an institution. Accused of abusing children.

But it’s not the first time that the House Judiciary made a decision that left the public questioning their understanding of what justice was. Let’s review some of their more…judicious decisions:

Looking back at the list of passes, failures, and tables it the floor vote today starts to make sense. It’s horrible. It’s wrong. But it shouldn’t be surprising.

For spouting family values, defense of freedoms, and protection from those out to cause us harm, the MT GOP and the House Judiciary Committee leave it pretty hard to believe that they’ll ever see the light.

Also let’s not forget that for a group of legislators that claim to be so in favor of protecting kids from child abuse, they have actually gutted the funding for Montana’s child abuse protection program. Chew on that reporters (but be sure not to do any reporting on it, as that would actually be “news.”)

I thank you for your clear analysis of the GOP legislative agenda in Montana. It seems their claim to be the party of “family values” (whatever that really means) does not hold out well when their legislative “accomplishments” are tallied.
In my view, a society that fails to protect the weakest members of that society is failing in its most basic functions–not to mention that the failure to protect our children is contemptible beyond words.

This is disgusting. Freedom of religion cannot be construed to permit child abuse or deprive minors of their Montana constitutional right to safety and health. The Montana DPHHS office covering the region in which Pinehaven is located should conduct an investigation of the facility and institute a monitoring program of the children at the ranch so that its personnel can act to remove any children who are abused.

Shame on Great Falls legislator Steve Fitzpatrick for voting against the bill; which is essentially a vote to support ongoing child abuse. Kudos to Helena Republican Liz Bangerter and Jesse O’Hara of Great Falls for getting it right.

Also, one might think that those with significant legal and judicial system experience would be appointed to the Judiciary Committee. The Republican appointments to that committee are appallingly bad. Was House Judiciary deemed a good place to dump all of the crazies?

Somehow, I could envision pretty much ANY of our creepy cretin
Teatard holy rollers doin’ the exact same thing for the LAWyord!
They are ALL preeverts of the first order! I mean, just LOOK at them! Closely! You can SEE the sleaziness just oosin’ outta them!

The Bush Crime Family SS just LUVS them some gun control! My motto. Right between the Ray Bans! America, land of the corporate fascists and their private armies! Get used to it. It’s your new reality! And you let it happen!